The Shape of Things

Grade Level:  Fourth

Subjects:  Reading, Writing, Science, and Technology

Learner Outcomes:
The students will use graphic organizers and visual techniques to interpret information.  The students will use comprehension skills to understand literary works and will be reading across the curriculum.  The students will use proper paragraph form and the mechanics of grammar in written composition.  The students will use a variety of materials to conduct explorations, use supporting statements with facts found through research and demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and creativity.

Technology:  Internet, Encarta, 2003

Duration of Lesson: 60 minutes

Materials:  books, oak tag, colored markers, paints, crayons, metal hangers, yarn and tape.

Technology Tools/Courseware:  Computer and Internet.

Teacher Notes:  Permission slips to access the Internet must be obtained from each student according to schools acceptable use policy.

Procedures: 
1.  Have students look in the Internet, encyclopedias, magazines and books about different natural disasters caused by severe weather.   
2.  Discuss the shapes and forms they recognize.  Examples may include zig-zag lightning, shaped tornadoes, and the spiral shape of a hurricane.
3.  Divide students into groups according to the disaster shape the group chooses as the theme for making their mobile. 
4.  Have students  draw a picture on oak tag of the shape.
5.  Have students think of other things in nature with the same shape. An example would be a snail and a snake have a spiral shape, or rivers and branches have zig-zag shapes.
6.  Have students color and cut out their shapes and make a mobile.

Modifications:  Check students Individualized Educational Plan for additional modifications.

Enrichment Activities:

•  Have students write a story about the items shown on their mobiles revolving around the natural disaster.

Evaluation/Assessment:  Have students present oral presentations of their mobiles and explain what they have learned about distinct shapes that are common in the disaster they have chosen.  Rubric score on a 4 (excellent), 3 (good), 2 (fair), or 1 (poor) scale.

State and National Standards:

West Virginia Department of Education Content Standards and Objectives:
Reading (RLA):  4.1.6, 4.1.4, 4.1.7.
Writing (RLA):  4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.2.10
Science (SC):  4.2.1, 4.2.9, 4.2.10
Technology (TEC): 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.5.2

National Standards:
Reading: 5. Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
Writing: 1. Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process.
Science: 12.  Understands the nature of scientific inquiry.
Technology: 6. Understands the nature and uses of different forms of technology.

References:

Resources Cited:

Additional Resources:

Student Resources:

Authors:

Sue Armentrout
Teresa Knight
Trish Tallman
Washington District Elementary School